Reserving for Clients, Guests and Groups
Thank you for your interest in Venetian rowing and the opportunity for your clients to provare la voga with Row Venice. We are a non-profit association that supports female competitive athletes and the tradition of the voga and Venetian boats unique to the city. We have four rare, hand-crafted spacious batelline available for our lessons, and with over twenty expert instructors who will introduce you to this fascinating aspect of authentic Venetian life.
If you’re a new agency, hotel, tour operator, school, production company or other organization, register here first. We’ll create your account and once your review the information below, you can begin to reserve our lessons for your participants, clients and guests.
ACTIVITIES
Please note that all activities are private.
OUR BOATS
We have two types of traditional Venetian boats. We have three batele with a capacity of 1-4 people, and we have one larger batela reserved exclusively for families and groups of 5 people.
Venetian Rowing Lesson: Lezione di voga
Cost (per boat) for our 80 minute lesson depends on the number of people in the boat:
- €100: 1 or 2 people
- €130: 3 people
- €150: 4 people (NOTE: lessons on holidays and starting after 17:30 are €150 per boat)
- The 5-person batela costs €220 (€260 on holidays and after 17:00).
- For more than 5 participants you will need multiple boats.
Lesson start times are from 10:00 to 16:00; with additional times available April-October. Note that midday lessons may not be available in excessive heat; earlier and later times may be available. Lessons offered after 5pm and on international and Italian holidays are €150 per boat, 1-4 people. We will offer the Grand Canal Row on Sundays and holidays ( check calendar for availability).
- There is no cost for children under 4 years-old., but please note in the comments that they’ll be with you.
- If a family has 3 children all under 10 years-old, you may book for the boat for four people; make sure to list children’s ages in the comments, and write us a separate email as well to let us know.
If you do not see the boats you need available at the time you prefer, contact us and we’ll check if we have an additional batela available.
PLEASE let us know if any participants are of above-average height or weight. It should not be a problem, but for safety reasons, if the instructor deems that the group is larger, or heavier than the equivalent of four adults, one person will have to stay behind.
Cicchetto Row
This activity is 2h 15min long and includes a rowing lesson followed by stops at two bàcari for cicchetti and drinks (included). Price is per boat depending on the number of people, as outlined below. See a full description here.
- 1 pax: €225
- 2 pax: €265
- 3 pax: €325
- 4 pax: €375
- 5 pax: €500 in the larger batela with two instuctors (reserved or groups of five only).
- Please contact us for group requests.
This activity was created with food and wine enthusiasts in mind (request an instructor-sommelier), perhaps less appropriate for those with dietary restrictions, less adventurous eaters and non-drinkers.
Please be sure to supply any dietary preferences or restrictions.
Normal start times are
- Jun-Aug, 17:30;
- Apr-May & Sept, 11:30 & 17:30;
- Oct, 11:30 and 16:30
- Nov-Mar, 11:30 (due to early sunset and chilly temps).
Additional times may be available on request, please contact us.
Important: The Cichetto Row will not be available on international holidays when wine bars are closed. Check calendar for availability.
FOR TOUR OPERATORS ONLY!
We also offer the Squero & Cicchetto Row, exclusively for travel professionals and their clients:
- Similar to the Cichetto Row, but we substitute the first bàcaro stop with a guided visit to an historic squero (Venetian boatyard) —dating from 1560 and in operation until 1920—and its one-of-kind traditional boat and implement collection.
- Activity lasts 2h15. The cost is €400 per boat for up to 4 people; a larger batela with two instructor for 5-person group is €500
- Recommended start times for the Squero e Cicchetto Row are 10:30 or 11:30, or 16.00 or 16:30 (14:30 Oct-Mar).
To reserve, contact us with your preferred start time and date and client information and we’ll create the reservation for you with a payment request to confirm. The activity may not be available on major international and Italian holidays, check with us for availability.
Please note: do ensure the agility of your clients as they will need disembark and re-embark at the squero water entrance.
Row the Grand Canal
Lessons in the Grand Canal are are 80 minutes, and are conducted in the evenings after sunset, during the day on Sundays, and on international and Italian holidays (check calendar for availability).
All Grand Canal rows are priced per boat, regardless of the number of people:
- Evening Row costs €180 for up to 4 people; for groups of 5 book the larger batela for €280.
- The Grand Canal Sunday Row costs €160 for up to 4 people; for groups of 5 the larger batela is €240.
Hours of operation:
- the Evening Grand Canal Row starts at 8pm in summer (possibly 6.30 depending on availability 24 hours beforehand); 5:30 pm in winter. Nearby restaurant drop-off a possibility (we can suggest/approve restaurant; you will need to make the reservation).
- the Sunday (and holiday) Grand Canal Row operates from 10:00-16:00, and also from 8:30 May–October.
WHERE TO MEET
Row Venice has a single meeting point for all their activities. For a map and detailed directions from various locations around the city, see WHERE TO MEET or search Row Venice in Google or Apple maps. Please let us know if you have any questions at all.
RESERVATIONS & PAYMENT
You must always make your reservation using our online system. We do not confirm reservations through direct email.
If this is your first booking, you’ll need to first register here. We’ll create your account and you’ll then use your booking email to SIGN IN and reserve. You may reset your password from the sign in page at any time if you forget it.
CREATING RESERVATIONS
Once you have signed in to your account using your email and password, to create a reservation:
- Select New Booking
- Select the desired activity, date and time
- CLIENT INFORMATION: It’s important to include client or escort name and cell contact in the LEAD ROWER field, supply additional client information in the Tell Us More comment section: language if not English, ages of children 14 and under, dietary preferences, mobility issues, and other any pertinent info, then pay to confirm.
- Your confirmation will be sent to the email in your account registration. Note that this is your official confirmation, we do not reserve or confirm via normal email.
Remember, you can always review existing bookings, change the date and time, and add additional information, and cancel your bookings yourself. Just sign in with your email and password, select Your Bookings and the desired booking to revise it.
Invoices are issued at the end of each month unless otherwise requested.
LARGE GROUPS
We can arrange for a lesson for your group of 10 or more people with up to four boats per time slot. Up to 17 participants can row in a single time slot; more than that can divide into consecutive groups.
Lessons are 80 minutes, normal start times are from 8.30 (Apr-Oct) and from 10 Nov-Mar, but may vary according to existing reservations. Please contact us to coordinate.
Cicchetto Row start times are 11.30, also 17.30 from May to Sept, or 16:30 in October. If you are unable to reserve directly on the website, please write for a quote.
BOOKING & CANCELLATIONS FOR GROUPS
To confirm a group reservation more than one month in advance, we will need a non-refundable deposit of one boat per time slot requested. You may reserve yourself or we can send a payment request when we create your reservation.
- Groups can add participants according to availability, but there is no refund for reducing their number.
- There is no refund for group cancellations later than two weeks in advance of the reservation date (except in the event of inclement weather).
- Cancellations in advance of two weeks will receive a full refund minus €25 per boat reserved.
HOTELS & Other 3rd Party Bookings
Hotels and other travel coordinators may reserve in one of two ways.
- IF YOU NEED AN INVOICE: Create an account (hotel, accompagnatore, group leader, etc.) with complete invoice information, including TaxID (and codice destinatario if Italian), then reserve for individual guests using that account. You must include guest name and cell contact number for each reservation. Otherwise,
- BOOK FOR YOUR GUEST directly with their information (name, date and country of birth required). You may pay with their credit card or yours, but note that we do not issue invoices for individuals’ bookings.
Commission
As a non-profit with a number of substantial fixed costs and skeleton admin staff, we are not able to offer commission. We try to keep the cost of our activities as low as possible, however, so that tour operators and travel pros are able to add booking fees and still keep our excursions reasonable for travelers.
Funds Transfers
Bookings are normally paid using a credit card or PayPal when you reserve. For larger group bookings, you may request to pay via wire transfer by special arrangement. Payments will be made to the account below.
For immediate credit, please email a copy of the receipt to info@rowvenice.org when the wire has been executed:
Row Venice Srl Sportiva Dilettantistica
IBAN: IT 59 E 05034 02023 000000000457
BIC: BAPPIT21603
Banco BPM Spa
Cannaregio 1906, San Leonardo, 30121 Venezia
IMAGES
Download images for your web site or publicity materials in any resolution you need at adobe.ly/2TI10ea.
IMPORTANT!
- Please make sure your clients are aware that this is a rowing lesson! We have a number of clients appear thinking it’s a boat ride, and they’re quite confused. Not everyone in the boat needs to row, but we do need one person rowing at all times.
- Book early in their stay so that if we have to reschedule for weather, there’ll be time.
- Please provide a way to communicate en route with either you, your clients or their escort (and vice versa) on lesson day; this is important should they be delayed, not appear or need our help to arrive.
- Encourage clients to review maps carefully and plan how to arrive just a few minutes before their appointment time. We will likely have another lesson following yours, and want to make sure they get the benefit of your whole lesson time.
CANCELLATIONS, WEATHER, and NO SHOWS
Weather
- We cannot row when the wind is over 20km per hour; traditional boats have no keel and no rudder and they become unnavigable in strong winds, even in canals.
- We do not row in the rain, it is dangerous for us and for the guests, and requires bailing out the boat after the lesson has ended. Lessons may proceed in light drizzle, but this will be at the discretion of the instructor.
- In the event we must cancel a lesson due to weather, we will try to reschedule according to availability. If we are unable to do so, we will refund your payment minus a €5 administrative fee.
- Once your clients are in the boat and the lesson has begun, we cannot offer a refund.
Cancellations and No Shows
- When lessons are scheduled on their arrival day, please make sure clients have alternative availability in case of ever-more-common transit issues, and indicate optional times in their reservation.
- For cancellations up to 48-hours in advance of lesson time, we will refund your payment minus a €25 administrative fee per boat reserved. For group reservations, the cancellation one month in advance.
- We cannot offer a refund for cancellations within 48 hours of the reservation; if possible we will reschedule the lesson at additional cost. Please notify us as soon as possible for the best options.
- There are no refunds for no shows; as we will still need to compensate the instructor for their time. Please make sure your client has a way to get in touch with us (email, SMS, iMessage or Whatsapp) in case they need any help on their way to the lesson. If they miss the lesson, we have availability we can try to reschedule at additional cost.
- Please see GROUPS above for our group cancellation policy specifications.